In the midst of the debate over who is the best boxer of the century between Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford, Californian fighter Ryan Garcia joined the conversation with a strong stance
During an appearance on Ring Magazine’s Inside the Ring show, Garcia claimed that Mayweather “changed boxing in the worst way possible”, criticizing his strategy of carefully choosing when to face his opponents.
“He’s the best at picking when to fight”
Garcia pointed out that Mayweather mastered the art of knowing when to fight someone and when not to. According to the young boxer, Floyd avoided facing rivals at their best, especially after his time in the super featherweight division
He never fought anyone really in his prime, prime. So yes, he changed the game in the worst possible way.
Mayweather’s legacy: Money over competition?
Although he acknowledged that Mayweather is the best at generating money and securing high-profile fights, Garcia questioned the motive behind that success.
He is the best at making big fights happen. But why? Because he was timing each one
This criticism points to a trend that Garcia believes has contaminated the sport: protecting the undefeated record at all costs.
Garcia, an example of the opposite
Ryan Garcia put his own record on the line when he faced Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2023, a fight that ended with his knockout defeat. For him, it is this type of matchup between boxers in their prime that should define modern boxing
Me, Tank, Canelo, Crawford… we’re trying to reverse the impact of Mayweather
The debate between Mayweather and Crawford
Garcia’s statements add to a discussion that intensified after Canelo Alvarez said he considers Terence Crawford superior to Mayweather. Although both have undefeated records and multiple titles in different divisions, the way they built their careers is what is at the heart of the debate. For Garcia, Crawford represents a generation that is not afraid to lose if it means facing the best.
Reactions in the boxing world
Garcia’s words have generated mixed reactions. Some experts agree that Mayweather was strategic to the extreme, while others defend his legacy as one of the most successful and technically brilliant in history. So far, Mayweather has not publicly responded to the criticism, but his record speaks for itself: 50 wins, 0 losses.
A change of mindset?
Ryan Garcia‘s statements reflect a new mentality in professional boxing, where fighters seek to face the best regardless of the risk to their record. His criticism of Floyd Mayweather not only questions the past, but also proposes a more competitive and less calculated future. Only time will tell if this vision will change the course of the sport.
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